When I first picked this book up, it took me a couple of attempts to really get into it, it's very much a “slow burner” as you read, but, the incredible forsight of Anderson's work bears fruit as you slowly find yourself hooked on this book, and desperately searching for the sequels, I am now up to date on all of these books, and, it is an amazing saga!
A saga it most definitely is though, so the first book doesn't really reach the climatic flame point (those of you who've read the book, please excuse the pun) you would expect, however, it leaves you begging for more, as you are drawn into the network of lives who span the galaxy, watching the rise and fall of characters, this truely is a saga of epic proportions, worthy of its place in history, among other such classics as (dare I utter them in the same sentence) Dune, and Star Wars, this is the beginning of something spectacular… the universe is bigger than just one hero, and this book plays that out in a fantastic manner, read, and enjoy :)